Electrical service duct

ABSTRACT

An electrical service duct is in the form of a moulding comprising a base with a removable cover and accommodates several independent insulated electrical leads. Insulating blocks are mounted in the base at the location of each branch connection, which blocks have passageways each receiving a lead, and mortices are provided in each insulating block on at least two passageways for receiving the ends of pins which are to connect with the conductors of the leads and which pins are carried by connectors which pass through prearranged apertures in the cover. Correspondence is assured between the apertures in the cover and the mortices on the insulating blocks.

[451 Apr. 23, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Larsile ELECTRICAL SERVICE DUCT Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay

Inventor: Jacques Larsile, La

Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Hafer Attorney, Nissen Varenne-St-Hilaire, France Agent, or Firm-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz &

[73] Assignee: Technilec,Gonesse, France [22] Filed: May 31, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 365,743

ABSTRACT independent insulated electrical leads. Insulating blocks are mounted in the base at the location of each branch connection, which blocks have passageways each receiving a lead, and mortices are provided in each insulating block on at least two 5 1 passageways for receiving the ends of pins which are [56] References cued to connect with the conductors of the leads and which pins are carried by connectors which pass through prearranged apertures in the cover. Correspondence is 339/23 339/23 assured between the apertures in the cover and the 339/23 mortices on the insulating blocks. 339/22 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS T m m N m m E mlm T I: A "n P m m m S mmam E n nm h wn Am r T a m SOBMJ D E3052 4747 [9999 NHHHH U328] 14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 23 1974 sum 2 OF 2 llll ELECTRICAL SERVICE DUCT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to electrical service ducts of the kind enclosing conductors with detachable branches on the conductors, with novel possibilities for the distribution and the derivation of the electrical current passing through the said service duct. The invention applies in particular, but not exclusively, to a moulding fitted with grooves enclosing insulated wires, with connections by needle-type connectors, of the kind described in French Pat. specification No. 2,097,279.

In this'kind of service duct a moulding of rectangular cross section is provided which is closed by a cover, the plinth of the moulding comprising parallel continuous grooves each intended to receive a conductor having a definite function such as: phase, neutral, earth or protection conductor. A preferred way of making of such a plinth is an extrusion of a termo-plastic material. In this embodiment the cover comprises two types of apertures, one for the passage of needle-shaped connector pins piercing the insulation of the conductors, the other for maintaining in position connector housings which are fitted with a screw stirrup to force the needles to penetrate into the insulation of the conductors and to straddle the core of the conductors.

However, the forming of the moulding plinth by extrusion only permits the use of a termo-plastic material, of which the thermal and electrical arc resistance is not considered adequate according to certain regulations to perform the function of a shield between the live parts, which are the needles, and the wall to which the service duct is fixed. Furthermore, the existance of parallel grooves from one end to another of the service duct does not allow crossing or any repetition or termination or the conductors at a definite point of the said service duct. The use of such duct is then too restricted, being to uniform in a fairly complex installation.

The invention overcomes these disadvantages. It provides means for realising installations, for example with three, five or more conductors, with various branching combination for the supply of a series of power outlet points not all having the same function or the same sup- SUMMARY An electrical service duct according to the invention is in the form of a moulding with a removable cover intended to receive unstripped insulated leads which are contacted by pin-type connectors passing through the cover form branch connectors at intervals. The conductors are supported by insulating blocks, wherein the blocks in the moulding at the location of each branch, and the surface of each block facing the cover is formed with aplurality of parallel passageways for the insulated leads which are engaged therein, mortices on at least two of the said passageways receive the ends of the pins which contact the conductors engaged in said passageways, the pins being introduced through apertures in the cover, and positioning means between the cover and each of the blocks ensure correspondence of the apertures with the positions of the mortices on the blocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a moulding with an insulating block, two conductors and a cover,

FIG. 2 is a partly sectioned lateral view made along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1, ofthe insulating block fitted in a service duct and pinching a conductor,

FIG. 3a and 3b are detailed views of means of pinching conductors, which are integral parts of the block,

FIG. 4 is a first branching diagram of one application of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a second branching diagram of another application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the plinth of a moulding comprises a bottom 1 and two external edges 2, each edge shaped with an internal bead 3 which presents, on the side opposite the bottom, a ramp 4. Parallel to the edges 2, fins 5 are extruded which fins are interrupted at certain intervals, leaving-a space 6 between adjacent fins. Each of the fins is spaced from the corresponding edge 2 so as to leave a narrow empty channel 7, the function of which will be explained hereafter.

The fins, such as 5 is of lesser depth than the edge 2 of the moulding so as to serve as parallel support for a cover 8 of the moulding. The plane cover 8, preferably of a thermo-setting material, has bevels 9 on both its sides which are complementary to the ramps 4 of the beads 3 of the moulding, this permitting the cover 8 to click into position by elastic deformation of the edges 3, the cover being thus securely fixed between the beads 3 and the edges of the fins 5.

The moulding itself may be of a termo-plastic resin, but it could be also of thin'aluminium with an insulating internal covering. I

In the space 6 in the moulding betweenthe fins, there is housed an insulating support block 10. The block 10, of thermo setting material which is thermally resistant up to 500C, is formed on its front face with hemicylindrical grooves 11 and 12, in the example chosen two external grooves 11 for distributionalderivation and a central groove 12 without derivation. The block 10 is of suitable width to fit between the internal faces of the edges 2 of the moulding. To this end, the block has on its sides two inverse ramps of shallow inclination 13 and 14 intended to displace the beads 3 and then to hook behind them when the block is depressed. Furthermore the block carries on its front part and on each bottom and top side, a pair of noses 15 forming an extension of the second ramp 14. The cover 8 has corresponding notches 16 on each side on its edges.

It is clear from FIG. 1 that the cover 8 can be pressed towards the moulding where the block 10 is already embedded and that the notches 16 by engaging in the noses 15 constrain the block to position itself exactly with respect to the cover; i.e. with reference to the apertures 17 of the said cover in which connector pins are intended to engage. The exact positioning of the block 10 is possible if the interspace 6 between the fins 5 is slightly greater than the length of the block 10. The connector not shown, is of a type described in the French Pat. specification published as No. 2,097,279 and it is fitted with needle-shaped pins passing into the holes 17, and with fixing hooks which engage in apertures 18, which are slots more widely spaced with respect to the general axis than the pins of the connector. The channels 7 delimited by the fins are arranged to receive the ends of the hooks engaging in the slots 17, by virtue of which the hooks are insulated from the conductors 25 placed in the moulding. In fact the conductors 25 are housed in the groove 19 formed between two pairs of fins, fixing holes 20 for fixing the moulding on a wall being formed in the floor of the groove 19.

The notches l6 on each side of the edges of the cover may be located in pairs at different intervals, which defines, an irreversible position of the cover, by cooperation with the noses 15 of the block. In fact the depth of the moulding, that of the block and the dimension of the noses to permit cover to engage by its bevels 9 against the beads 3 of the, moulding, with the cover just imprisioning the block when it is hooked behind the beads 3. Facing the holes 17, the block has grooves 11 which are recessed with mortices 21, so that the needle-shaped pins which have pierced the insulation of a conductor arranged in the groove 11 can pass beyond into the said mortice. For a good support of the conductor 25, a thin rib 22 divides the mortice 21, joining the groove bottoms 11. 7

FIG. 2 illustrates a means of blocking a conductor 25 housed in a groove 11 of the block 10. To this end, the fin which delimits the channel 7 already mentioned is made of a somewhat resilient material and it terminates in a flange 5a turned towards the axis of the moulding. The arrangement of the block is such that the edge 11a of the groove 11 is co-incidence with the face 5b of the tin, the said face being directed towards the interior of the groove 19. Thus the flange 5a pinches the conductor 25. g

If a conductor is arranged in a central groove such as a 12, another retaining means must be provided. According to FIG'. 3a the block comprises a housing groove 24 at its lateral ends, the housing groove being formed with two noses 24a, 24b capable of resiliently pinching the conductor 25.

According to FIG. 3b, the groove 12 may also have simple beads 26 of rounded shape, the deformation for introducing the conductor being solely of the insulating sheath of the conductor.

FIG. 4 is a first example ofa branching diagram, with the use of support blocks 10 according to that of FIG. 1. This lay-out enables power outlet points to be arranged which are supplied either directly or through a switch. Three blocks 10a, 10b, 100 have been housed between the pairs of fins 7 which conform to the arrangement of FIG. 1 and of FIG. 2. Starting from a supply point P and a fuse F, the conductor 27 passes into the upper mortice 21a of the block 10a, then it descends in the groove which follows and passes into the groove 12b of the block 10b and it rises again into the following groove and passes into the upper mortice 21!: of the block 100. A second conductor connected to the fuse F passes through a switch 28 to supply the conductor 29, which passes firstly into the central groove 12a the block 1011, then rises again crossing the conductor 27 and passes into the mortice 21b of the block 10b. Then it descends again, crossing the conductor 27, and passes into the central groove 120 of the block 100. A third conductor 30, which is the neutral, passes directly into the bottom mortices of the three blocks, 10a, 10b, 10c.

FIG. 5 shows a service duct having a double distribution capacity. The blocks used each comprise five grooves, three of which have mortices and are symmetrical with respect to the axis, whereas the two outer grooves have not mortice. Furthermore, on each support block 10d, l0e, 10f the central mortice is staggered to the right with respect to the other two. The central conductor extends axially and directly along the three central grooves and mortices. In the upper part a supply point P is connected to two fuses G and H. The first fuse G is connected to the upper conductor 31, which passes into two direct upper grooves of the blocks 10d, l0e, and is then inclined and passes into the upper mortice of the block 10f. The second fuse H is connected to a conductor 32, which extends in a straight line into the upper mortices of the blocks 10d and l0e and then stops. symmetrically in the lower part of the moulding, a neutral N is divided into two conductors 33, 34, of which the first conductor 33 passes into the lower mortices of the blocks 10d and 102 and then stops, while the second conductor 34 passes directly into the lower grooves of the blocks 10d, l0e, then rises again and passes into the lower mortices of the block 10f. This five-way arrangement makes it possible, with a single type of service duct, and a single conductor section, to have a single or double rated intensity, depending upon the installation conditions. It is also possible to combine this arrangement with the previous one by making crossings of conductors. It will then be necessary to alternate the neutral conductor at the same time as the phase conductor is alternated in order to balance the loads. The central conductor P is the protection conductor relating to all the power outlet points.

Multiple service ducts with needle, blade or resilient pin-type connectors may be used and with various modes of branching in a electrical service duct according to the invention.

I claim:

1. An electrical service duct in the form of a moulding comprising a base with a removable cover intended to accommodate several independent insulated electrical leads each having a single conductor, and which have not previously been bared, into which duct there are connected at intervals pin connectors passing through pre-arranged apertures in thecover, the base containing insulating blocks for supporting the leads, wherein the insulating blocks are mounted in the base at the location of each pin connection and the surface of each block facing the cover is formed with passageways each accommodating the whole of one of the insulated leads, mortices are provided in each insulating block on at least two passageways for receiving the ends of pins which are to make contact with the conductors which pins are introduced through apertures in the cover, and complementary positioning means are provided on each insulating block and on the cover to assure correspondence between the apertures in the cover and the mortices on the insulating blocks.

2. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein the base is formed with an internal space permitting crossing of two conductors between one passageway in an insulating block and another passageway situated at a different height.

3. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein the blocks are embedded in the moulding with a longitudinal play between two stops and between each block and the cover there are provided lugs and cavities ensuring the exact positioning of the apertures for the pins with respect to the mortices.

4. An electrical service duct according to claim 3, wherein the moulding is formed at its edges with two retaining beads, each block is adapted-to engage and catch beneath the said edges and is provided with noses adapted to engage into corresponding notches of the cover.

5. An electrical service duct according to claim 3, wherein the stops are fins parallel to the edges of the moulding which define an axial space for housing and permitting crossing of the conductors.

6. An electrical service duct according to claim 5, wherein the fins are of a height to serve as support for the cover.

7. An electrical service duct according to claim 5, wherein two parallel fins are arranged so that the space which separates them from the edges of the moulding receives means for fixing the connectors on to the moulding.

8. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein the blocks are formed wholly or in part of a heat and fire resisting insulating material.

9. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein the cover is made of a heat and fire resisting insulating material. I

10. An electrical service duct according to-claim 5, wherein the moulding and its cover are adapted to receive needle shaped connectors, the cover having hooking perforations more widely spaced than the apertures for the connectors and that the fins delimit lateral channels for receiving hooking means only.

11. An electrical service duct according to claim 10, wherein the blocks are fitted with square mortices intersecting the passageways, each mortice being separated centrally by a thin partition so as to serve as a support for a conductor which is to be engaged by needle connectors.

12. An electrical service duct according to claim 10, wherein the passageway of the block is a semicircular groove which is formed with its edge more remote from the axis of the moulding coinciding with the face of the fin facing towards the axis of the moulding, which is resilient and is fitted with a retaining nose prolonging the groove so as to pinch the conductor housed in the groove.

13. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein a groove in the block is provided on the edges of the transverse section of the block with retaining noses adapted to pinch a conductor in the said groove.

14. An electrical service duct according to claim 2, wherein the blocks comprise an arrangement of mortices permittingalternate distributions of the conductors housed in the whole of the moulding and which are adapted for a particular layout. 

1. An electrical service duct in the form of a moulding comprising a base with a removable cover intended to accommodate several independent insulated electrical leads each having a single conductor, and which have not previously been bared, into which duct there are connected at intervals pin connectors passing through pre-arranged apertures in the cover, the base containing insulating blocks for supporting the leads, wherein the insulating blocks are mounted in the base at the location of each pin connection and the surface of each block facing the cover is formed with passageways each accommodating the whole of one of the insulated leads, mortices are provided in each insulating block on at least two passageways for receiving the ends of pins which are to make contact with the conductors which pins are introduced through apertures in the cover, and complementary positioning means are provided on each insulating block and on the cover to assure correspondence between the apertures in the cover and the mortices on the insulating blocks.
 2. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein the base is formed with an internal space permitting crossing of two conductors between one passageway in an insulating block and another passageway situated at a different height.
 3. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein the blocks are embedded in the moulding with a longitudinal play between two stops and between each block and the cover there are provided lugs and cavities ensuring the exact positioning of the apertures for the pins with respect to the mortices.
 4. An electrical service duct according to claim 3, wherein the moulding is formed at its edges with two retaining beads, each block is adapted to engage and catch beneath the said edges and is provided with noses adapted to engage into corresponding notches of the cover.
 5. An electrical service duct according to claim 3, wherein the stops are fins parallel to the edges of the moulding which define an axial space for housing and permitting crossing of the conductors.
 6. An electrical service duct according to claim 5, wherein the fins are of a height to serve as support for the cover.
 7. An electrical service duct according to claim 5, wherein two parallel fins are arranged so that the space which separates them from the edges of the moulding receives means for fixing the connectors on to the moulding.
 8. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein the blocks are formed wholly or in part of a heat and fire resisting insulating material.
 9. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein the cover iS made of a heat and fire resisting insulating material.
 10. An electrical service duct according to claim 5, wherein the moulding and its cover are adapted to receive needle shaped connectors, the cover having hooking perforations more widely spaced than the apertures for the connectors and that the fins delimit lateral channels for receiving hooking means only.
 11. An electrical service duct according to claim 10, wherein the blocks are fitted with square mortices intersecting the passageways, each mortice being separated centrally by a thin partition so as to serve as a support for a conductor which is to be engaged by needle connectors.
 12. An electrical service duct according to claim 10, wherein the passageway of the block is a semicircular groove which is formed with its edge more remote from the axis of the moulding coinciding with the face of the fin facing towards the axis of the moulding, which is resilient and is fitted with a retaining nose prolonging the groove so as to pinch the conductor housed in the groove.
 13. An electrical service duct according to claim 1, wherein a groove in the block is provided on the edges of the transverse section of the block with retaining noses adapted to pinch a conductor in the said groove.
 14. An electrical service duct according to claim 2, wherein the blocks comprise an arrangement of mortices permitting alternate distributions of the conductors housed in the whole of the moulding and which are adapted for a particular layout. 